: I have to disagree here. As I read the novels, I was under the impression
: there was plenty of consent. They didn't have a choice , but they did
: consent. I'm not saying it was unanimous, though. We do have a few reports
: of inductees trying to escape.

I'm fairly sure the people who kidnapped six year olds with the intention of turning them into killers don't really care if the children consented or not. It's not like the ONI agents detailed the situation thoroughly to the prospective candidates, then asking them if they wanted to join, before knocking them out and throwing them into a van.

Had the Spartans been given the opportunity to consent to the training, those kids would have trampled Halsey and the drill instructors to rush the exit. Bunch of weeping children who only want to be back home with their families. Nobody at that age is able to give consent to anything in their emotional state.

: Ah, but they were as 'brain-washed' as the Halo Spartans, weren't they?

I was comparing their martial prowess to the Spartans of the 26th century without concern for similarities in indoctrination methods, if any. I added in the Korean War example to highlight the heroism and skill of adult volunteers/conscripts to child soldiers.